Sun 090910 20pgs 2

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the

Sun

Sopris Carbondale’s

weekly, non-profit newspaper

Volume 2, Number 29 | September 9, 2010

Changing seasons

A sure sign that signals the end of summer throughout the Roaring Fork Valley is the second cutting of hay. Above, Arturo Ortiz bales hay on Paul and Celia Nieslanik’s ranch east of Carbondale on County Road 100. Photo by Jane Bachrach

Carbondale’s ‘hidden gem’ at a weedy crossroad By Lynn Burton The Sopris Sun While the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal attracts barrels full of ink in the local press, barely a drop has been spilled on Carbondale’s own hidden gem. Carbondale’s little-known jewel is called Promenade Park and it covers about two acres between the Rio Grande Trail and north side of the recreation center.The park, now in its fifth year, features 75 trees, dozens of shrubs, a plethora of flowering species, ground covers and native grasses, and a community vegetable garden.A handicap-accessible gravel path winds through the park, and there are benches, a picnic pavilion and bike racks.

Promenade Park’s individual gardens, one of which is raised like a gigantic pitcher’s mound with a stand of 4-foot ornamental grass on top, are divided into“traditional,” “xeriscape,” and “moderatexeriscape” sections. Placards on each garden identify the different species growing within and their differing watering needs. “This whole garden (and park) is a teaching tool,”said Tony Coia, Carbondale’s public landscape manager, during a recent tour. The teaching component is in question though; because weeds are overrunning the low-laying native vegetation parts of the park, and using the park for educational purposes was a key factor in the $200,000 Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant

that help to fund the park five years ago. If Carbondale can’t figure out a way to handle Promenade Park’s weeds, the state might ask for its money back. “We’re not sure what will happen if there’s a change in use,” said Carbondale Mayor Stacey Bernot. Besides the five separate garden areas, placards and a kiosk-style map with a legend at the picnic pavilion also identify the other sections of the park: orchard and edibles (with fruit trees), pinion-juniper community, the storm water management section (where the weed problem is most pronounced) and drought-tolerant turf grass (the PROMENADE page 7

Black-eyed Susans are late bloomers. Photo by Lynn Burton

Satank bridge deal’s done

Planning a gym’s future

Volleyball team rolls

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